DIELS-ALDER REACTION OF FURAN WITH CYCLOPROPENONE - AN AB-INITIO STUDY

The Diels-Alder reaction of furan with cyclopropenone is examined at the MP4SDQ/6-31G*lIMP2/ 6-31G* level. Reactants, transition states, and products were completely optimized at the MP2/ 6-31G* level. Optimized structures indicate a stabilizing interaction between the ether oxygen and the carbonyl carbon makes the exo product the thermodynamic (exo favored by 6.35 kcal mol(-1)) and kinetic (exo TS favored by 1.81 kcal mol(-1)) product. On the basis of topological bond orders, the reaction follows a synchronous concerted pathway.